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Original poster

Friends Opinion on My choosen taxi?

61 replies

Netcurtainnelly · 21/09/2025 21:38

My friend and I had just come out of the station, and there were no other passengers—taxis were queued on the other side of the road, but we were the only ones there at the time. I got into the nearest taxi because I liked the car and the way the doors opened. My friend gave me the side-eye and said, “You’re supposed to take the first taxi in line—that’s how it works.” The driver didn’t say anything and there were no signs. Was I in the wrong?
No queue-just us.

OP posts:
dontshootmessenger · 22/09/2025 09:03

Come on, if you saw this at the end of the taxi queue you can’t tell me you’d follow the cab rank rule!

Friends Opinion on My choosen taxi?
Idontjetwashthefucker · 22/09/2025 08:54

More importantly what was so special about the way the taxi's doors opened?

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 22/09/2025 08:51

Whenever there is a queue of taxis and no one else waiting I always walk down the rank and try all the doors and then choose the one with the nicest opening doors. Failing that I base my decision on the brand of tyres.

Mulledjuice · 22/09/2025 08:45

ARichtGoodDram · 21/09/2025 21:45

Very poor form of the driver to take you.

Station ranks very much are take the first taxi first.

This.

Ginmonkeyagain · 22/09/2025 08:45

Nooooo! You always take the taxi at the front of the queue in the rank. If they can't take you - eg you need a larger or accessible cab then the driver will say so and direct you to go to another cab in the queue.

Magnificentkitteh · 22/09/2025 08:44

There's literally a name for this "the cab rank rule" that is used as a metaphor for other scenarios. It means the next person in line gets the job and they can't pick and choose the fares they want.

Swiftie1878 · 22/09/2025 08:40

Netcurtainnelly · 21/09/2025 21:43

I've just looked it up. It's says a little outdated today and as their were no signs you can take which one you prefer.

Well you can, of course. But that’s bad etiquette/manners.

Zanatdy · 22/09/2025 08:20

of course your friend is right, you don’t just pick your taxi as you like the way the doors open. You get in the first one. Sure she was suitably embarrassed.

Lavender14 · 22/09/2025 08:19

I think unless there was an accessibility need and one taxi met that need better further along the rank then yes you should have taken the first taxi. I would also have expected the driver to have directed you to the first taxi but again if you say the doors were different maybe he assumed you needed that in some way and didn't want to be rude.

cygnusgenie · 22/09/2025 08:15

Twinmum345 · 21/09/2025 22:06

I can’t believe people get upset over this

Nobody is getting upset, just pointing out that taking the first taxi is the correct thing to do

CountryQueen · 22/09/2025 07:55

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

CheeseWisely · 21/09/2025 22:42

Awful from you and the driver. You take the first taxi in the queue unless you need a people carrier or a wheelchair cab. Preferred the way the doors opened ffs.

PractisingMyTelekenipsis · 21/09/2025 22:38

Very poor form from you and the driver. Mind you, the taxi rank at my local station works in such a way that you can only get in the front car. The others can't get out of the road they are in. No idea what happens if you need a bigger vehicle!

mzpq · 21/09/2025 22:32

I'm reminded of the time I went to Killarney National Park in Ireland.

We got a horse and cart (or jaunting cars as they were called) around the park and they were queued up outside.

As our 'Jarvey' (guy who rode us round) went to return to the queue an almighty fight broke out between two other young Jarveys.

They actually started whipping each other with their horse whips and one was shouting 'You're a feckin cowboy!" at the other.

Turned out the 'cowboy' had been joining the back of the queue and directing tourists towards him, which obviously didn't go down well with the others! đź‘€

gottakeeponmoving · 21/09/2025 22:32

bumbaloo · 21/09/2025 22:20

Where did you look it up?

Show quote history

Probably google AI

ilovesooty · 21/09/2025 22:26

Your friend was right.

bumbaloo · 21/09/2025 22:20

Netcurtainnelly · 21/09/2025 21:43

I've just looked it up. It's says a little outdated today and as their were no signs you can take which one you prefer.

Where did you look it up?

Justyouwaitandseeagain · 21/09/2025 22:14

Absolutely bad form. I've had times where it's been unclear who is first and the drivers have always signalled. I am amazed the driver took you. As others said. Only reason to go to one further back in the queue is if you need a larger vehicle. I've also had times where I left a large minibus type vehicle as it was just me and still been send back by the driver behind.

idlieforyou · 21/09/2025 22:11

Twinmum345 · 21/09/2025 22:06

I can’t believe people get upset over this

Im sure if someone took your wages you would be upset too, becsue thats what it amounts to when you wait an hour for a fare and someone lifts them from the back.

rainbowunicorn · 21/09/2025 22:10

Your friend is right. The front taxi has been waiting longest. Your driver should have sent you to the front taxi. It's a really shitty thing for a driver to do to another driver.

TranceNation · 21/09/2025 22:09

I'm surprised the other taxi drivers didn't get out in arms of rage at this unfolding to be honest. I find taxi drivers seem to be all mates with eachother chatting with eachother along the taxi rank but can't imagine them losing their shit with eachother very quickly over breeches of protocol like this.

ThreePointOneFourOneFiveNine · 21/09/2025 22:07

Your friend is right. Unless you have a genuine reason for needing a different vehicle you take the one at the front of the queue.

Twinmum345 · 21/09/2025 22:06

I can’t believe people get upset over this

mzpq · 21/09/2025 22:04

I've done that before by accident and the driver said I needed to go to the taxi at the front of the queue.

shhblackbag · 21/09/2025 22:03

She's right. It's bad manners to me. And he's going to be unpopular having taken you.

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